Drip chamber for administering a medical fluid

Abstract

A drip chamber ( 1 ) for administering a medical fluid, comprises a chamber element ( 30 ) forming a chamber ( 300 ), an inlet ( 20 ) for letting a medical fluid into the chamber ( 300 ), and a connector ( 31 ) connected to the chamber element ( 30 ) at an outlet of the drip chamber ( 1 ). A tube ( 4 ) is connectable to the connector ( 31 ) for letting the medical fluid out of the chamber ( 300 ). Herein, the connector ( 31 ) is formed in one piece on the chamber element ( 30 ) by using injection molding, wherein the chamber element ( 30 ) is formed from a first material and the connector ( 31 ) is formed from a second material which is different from the first material. In this way a drip chamber is provided which allows for an easy, cost-efficient production and at the same time is easily squeezable and may provide a reliable, durable connection to a tube.

1 . A drip chamber for administering a medical fluid, comprising:
 a chamber element forming a chamber,   an inlet for letting a medical fluid into the chamber, and   a connector connected to the chamber element at an outlet of the drip chamber, wherein a tube is connectable to the connector for letting the medical fluid out of the chamber,   
       characterized in 
       that the connector is formed in one piece on the chamber element by using injection molding, wherein the chamber element is formed from a first material and the connector is formed from a second material which is different from the first material. 
     
     
         2 . The drip chamber according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the first material has a smaller modulus of elasticity than the second material. 
     
     
         3 . The drip chamber according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the first material and the second material are thermoplastic polymers having different moduli of elasticity. 
     
     
         4 . The drip chamber according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the first material is a polystyrene or styrene butadiene block polymer of a first type and the second material is a polystyrene of a second type having a higher modulus of elasticity as compared to the polystyrene of the first type. 
     
     
         5 . The drip chamber according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the first material is a polystyrene or styrene butadiene block polymer and the second material is a methyl methacrylate acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. 
     
     
         6 . The drip chamber according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the connector is arranged at a side of the chamber element opposite the inlet. 
     
     
         7 . The drip chamber according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the connector comprises a reception opening into which an end of the tube is insertable. 
     
     
         8 . The drip chamber according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the reception opening adjoins an outlet opening formed in the connector or in the chamber element for providing a flow connection to the chamber, the reception opening having a larger diameter as compared to the diameter of the outlet opening. 
     
     
         9 . The drip chamber according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the connector has a stub section forming the reception opening. 
     
     
         10 . The drip chamber according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the stub section is connected to a bottom section of the chamber element via a cone section tapering towards the stub section. 
     
     
         11 . The drip chamber according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the connector comprises a connecting section circumferentially surrounding the chamber element at its bottom section. 
     
     
         12 . The drip chamber according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the chamber element comprises a stub section extending into the connector and forming an insertion opening for receiving an end of the tube, wherein the insertion opening adjoins an outlet opening formed in the stub section for providing a flow connection to the chamber, the insertion opening having a larger diameter as compared to the diameter of the outlet opening. 
     
     
         13 . The drip chamber according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a membrane is arranged, with a circumferential membrane edge, in between a face of the chamber element and a face of the connector, the membrane separating the chamber from the outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The drip chamber according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the membrane, with a circumferential membrane edge, is connected to a face of the chamber element or the connector, the membrane separating the chamber from the outlet. 
     
     
         15 . A method for producing a drip chamber for administering a medical fluid, the drip chamber comprising:
 a chamber element forming a chamber,   an inlet for letting a medical fluid into the chamber, and   a connector connected to the chamber element at an outlet, wherein a tube is connectable to the connector for letting the medical fluid out of the chamber,   
       characterized in 
       that the connector is formed in one piece with the chamber element using a two-component injection molding technique, wherein the chamber element is formed from a first material and the connector is formed from a second material which is different from the first material.